Animal Enforcement
The enforcement of animal safety laws include:
- Licensing in accordance with rabies vaccination requirements
- Leash laws
- Animal litter
- Barking dogs
- Animal bites/vicious dogs
- Abandonment/cruelty
Dog Licensing
No dog over the age of 6 months shall be kept within the City of Aspen unless the keeper in charge of the animal has the animal inoculated against rabies and annually pays a designated agent of the City for collection of a license fee. Persons authorized to perform vaccinations against rabies may be designated as agents of the City for the collection of such fees. Authorized agents include:
- Aspen Police Department
506 East Main St., Suite 101, Aspen, CO 81611
Phone number: (970) 920-5400
- Aspen Animal Hospital
301 AABC, Aspen, CO 81611
Phone number: (970) 925-2611
- Randi Bolton, D.V.M.
P.O. BOX 202 , Woody Creek, CO 81626
Phone number: (970) 925-4447
- Valley Mobile Veterinary Practice: Rosemary Strong
0060 Twin Ridge Dr., Aspen, CO 81611
Phone number: (970) 925-6412
If you choose to get your animal license from the Aspen Police Department, the keeper of the canine must bring with them proof of current rabies vaccination:
- Accepted: Paperwork- vaccination history or annual animal inspection.
- Not Accepted: Rabies tags are not sufficient proof for acquiring a license.
If you reside outside the City of Aspen, but within Pitkin County, please refer to the Pitkin County Sheriff’s Office, Animal Control for further information about licensing your animal.
Leash Laws
All canines out-and-about in the City of Aspen are required to be on a leash, otherwise they will be considered “running at large” and subject to fine, kenneling, or both. Voice command over your canine is not an acceptable control mechanism. If a canine is found “running at large” [off or away from the premises of the keeper and not under direct control (leash, cord or chain no longer than ten feet in length and of sufficient strength)] and an Officer is unable to contact the owner, the Officer may bring the canine to the Aspen Animal Shelter for safe housing until contact can be made. Aspen Animal Shelter is located at 101 Animal Shelter Rd, and can be reached at (970) 544-0206.
Animal Waste
The keeper of the canine is responsible for the removal of any waste deposited by the animal upon any property, public or private, that is not owned by the keeper of the animal.1st Offense: $1002nd Offense: $150
Watch the Heat
Dogs can succumb to heat stress in a matter of minutes. Do not leave your dog in the car when the temperature is high. When your dog is outside, he should have a shady place to lie down and plenty of fresh, cool water.
Respect Others, Be Respected
Do not let your dog have a “bark-a-thon”. Continuous barking is a sign of an unhappy dog, and your neighbors do not appreciate it either.
Questions? Concerns?
Any thing regarding animals kept within the City of Aspen can be directed to the Aspen Police Department’s Community Safety Officers.